Government to reinstate School Inspectors

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Numerous issues between schools and the Education ministry and a lack of immediate communication is the reason behind the reinstatement of School Inspectors.

This is according to the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio in his interview with the media last week

Loau said that there have been so many problems arising between school principals, teachers and the Ministry of Education.

The reason being, is there are no inspectors which means communication with some of the rural schools is limited.

He did not explain why the positions of School Inspectors had been discontinued.

“The Government as well as the Ministry of Education, thought that it is time to bring them back to solve some of the issues between the Ministry, principals as well as some villages,” he said.

“With school inspectors their job is to solve whatever disputes there are between the Ministry and the principals of schools.

“They look at the needs of each school and then they inform the Ministry that this is what should be done in this school and that school,” he said.

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“And also whatever problems the principal or teachers have with the Ministry, the inspectors will voice these to the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Education Sports and Culture headquarters is at Malifa and when we talk about schools we are looking at the whole of Samoa. The Ministry cannot see what is happening in places like Asau and in other the schools in rural areas because they are far away.

“So bringing back school inspectors, means they will be the eyes and ears of the Ministry of Education and a voice for every school in Samoa.”

Loau added that having school inspectors means changes and as a Minister of Education there needs to be changes for the betterment of the education sector.

“We have a lot of issues within the Education sector and as Minister. I need to look at ways to solve them,” he said.

“For example there is an issue with Science. A lot of students are choosing to take law and other career paths because they say Science is hard.

“However, if we look at it, the problem arises from the grassroots from Year 1 to Year 4.

“Students need to learn about Science from a young age so that when they get up to tertiary level, they fully understand about the subject.

But that’s not how it is at present.

The Minister admitted that a shortage of teachers is another factor in a dearth of students taking Science which he says the government is “looking at.”

“Hopefully in the future we will be able to solve these problems so that the students will benefit and we may have more Science students.”